Nigeria to host 4th AU MSME Forum focused on financing, trade growth

By Kunle Sanni –

Delegates from over 50 African countries are expected to converge in Abuja from Monday, June 23 to Friday, June 27, 2025, for the 4th African Union (AU) MSME Forum, to discuss challenges facing small businesses across the continent.

According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, spokesperson to Vice President Kashim Shettima, the forum will focus on affordable financing, digital transformation, and improved market access for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Speaking at a press conference at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said the aim is to empower small businesses through policy reforms and strategic partnerships that promote intra-African trade.

“The principal objective is to empower Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises, develop intra-African value chains, and strengthen policies on MSME development through fostering strategic partnerships,” Hadejia stated.

He urged key stakeholders in Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem to leverage the forum as an opportunity to build investment networks and expand market access across Africa.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said Nigeria’s hosting of the forum is a signal to the world that the country is open for business, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the event reflects his administration’s economic openness.

“This forum is one of the first steps in opening up our economy to the rest of the world,” Idris said, while calling on the media to support the event’s success.

Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musawa, expressed optimism that the forum will positively impact Nigeria’s culture and tourism sector by helping entrench sustainable policies to boost growth in the industry.